The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-08-03
LIMITS OF HUMAN IlFE.s,


Average Length-Cefftenaria
have before me the recotds-of no less
than fifty-two centenarians,sth The details
in regard to whom have beens lectedby
a committee of the British Medical associ-
alton. Let us see whether an inquiry into
these details suggests anything either as
to what are, probably, the natural limits
Of human life, or as to the regimen by
which life may be prolonged beyond its
average length! HiibJ q st'itl
OF the fifty-two no fewer than thirty.
six tmore than two-thirds) are women.
This may probably be attributed in large
part to the comparative immunity that
women enjoy from many risks to which
men are exposed, but probably it is due
1iotNless to their greater temperance and
to their! freedom from the anXieties and
heartburnings which attend mems strug-
giles for influence, and even maintenance.
MedicdS men contend, however, that
women also possess greater inherent vital
iSy than men, the mortality of girls being
less than that of boys, even during the
first year Of life, when the female is
neither more temperate nor less ambi-
tious than the male, and is exposed to as
many dangers.
OF the sixteen men one only was single;
ten Of the thirty six women were single;
fifteen men and twenty-six women, then,
among the centenarians, were married;
but, naturally enough, Of these forty-one
& large number, all in fact but five, were
widowed. Three of the fifty-two were,
rich, nineteen poor, the rest in comfort
able circumstances, nine were fat (only
one man, twenty-three lean, eighteen
medium; only eight were full blooded; the
rest average or pale. Forty had good
digestion, which; after. 100 years, means a
good deal Most Of the fifty-two have had
good appetites, only two having appetites
classed as actuallyibad; most of them have
been through life moderate eaters; twelve,
however, have eaten large quantities OF
food. Only one is returned as a large
eater of flesh and blood, and only one as q
great consumer OF. alcoholic liquors lin his
case the liquor preferred has been beer).
Only eight of all the number are classified
as simply sirritable;" but to these must
be added five classed as irritable and
energetic. ~ i
Unfortunately, however, the inquiries
have not in such matters rs these been ex-
tended into the past. A man or woman
may be very irritable in, extreme old
age land we may call 100 q coed old
age, even here when am striving to show
that it is the natural limit Of life) who has
been very placid and even extremely ami.
able throughout the greater part of his or
her career.
AS to smoking, thirty-two. are nom
smoking, seventeen smoke much -four OF
them are wonlen), three moderately, and
two little; only one chews; thirty:seven
avoid snuff. Most of the remaining re-.
turns, relating only to the actual condi
ton Of the flfty-two centenart rtansj at pres
ent, are of no special interest, showing
only that the same weaknesses prevail in
about the same degree among them, as
many men and women of the average
sort, between 70 and 80 years old. II
only our fifty-two centenarians could have
been examined twenty years ago in these
respects, the world might have obtained
some useful hints. 1t is worthy of notice,
however, thatsmost of them were free
from rheumatic and equity troubles. The
only man whosejoints were stiff and
deformed. from Ssnch causes stated, in
reply rto dpestlwsas to his capaeity
and dStaste for strong, drink, ~ always
drank as much asI Icould, and Iaiways
wf1ln,-not a casg,a twill be observed, Of
'ttWillfm> will to water so Willful must
Wet, but Of Willf1lW Would not to water
and so wet his4Rhisfle to: ibis own discom-
fort.zRfcbard "a: Pr9ctofin The Cosmo-
politan. " x IN